At the meeting of the Rushden Urban Council on Wednesday, Dr. Morris, Medical Officer of Health, presented his annual report as follows:-

The Rushden Urban District contains an estimated population of 13,337 as against 12,961 of last year; being an estimated increase of 376. The number of inhabited houses is 2,742, an increase of 79 from last year. The number of births registered have been 404, giving a birth rate of 30.28 per 1,000. The registered deaths have been 136, giving a death rate of 10.12 per 1,000. The average throughout England and Wales was 15.4 per 1,000.

The infant mortality has been 91.58 per 1,000, of which 10 have been premature, as against 122.85 per 1,000 last year. The average for small towns throughout the United Kingdom was 135, and for England and Wales 132 per 1,000.

Zymotic Diseases

Forty-one cases of infectious diseases have been notified, with two deaths.

Smallpox. – No case has been reported.

Scarlet Fever. – Nineteen cases have been reported, with no death.

Diphtheria and Membranous Croup. – Five cases have been reported, with one death.

Measles. – Not notifiable, have caused five deaths, all being between one and five years.

Whooping Cough. – Not notifiable, has caused four deaths, three under one year, and one between one and five years.

Erysipelas. – Eleven cases have been notified, with no death.

Enteric Fever. – Six cases have been reported, with one death.

Diarrhoea and Enteritis. – Three deaths, two under one year, and one between five and 15 years.

Respiratory Diseases

Bronchitis has been accountable for 15 deaths – 7 under 1 year, 3 between 1 and 5 years, 3 between 25 and 65 years, and 2 over 65 years.

Pneumonia has caused 3 deaths, 1 between 1 and 5 years, 1 between 15 and 25 years, and 1 between 25 and 65.

Phthisis has caused 15 deaths – 5 between 15 and 25 years, and 10 between 25 and 65 years.

Heart disease has been responsible for 18 deaths – 1 between 15 and 25 years, 10 between 25 and 65 years, and 7 over 65 years

Cancer and Malignant disease have caused 12 deaths – 1 between 15 and 25 years, 5 between 25 and 65 years, and 6 over 65 years.

There have been 4 accidental deaths – 1 between 5 and 15 years, 2 between 25 and 65 years, and 1 over 65 years.

There has been 1 case of suicide between 25 and 65 years.

Water Supply

has been rather short at times. The Council are taking every step possible towards completing their works.

Drainage is satisfactory and the Sewage Farm well managed. Several closets have been converted into the water system. There are still a number on the pail system but they are in a satisfactory condition.

All factories and workshops have been visited at intervals and are kept in a satisfactory condition. The names and addresses of 187 employees to whom work has been sent out in other districts have been given to the Sanitary Inspectors of those districts.

Cowsheds, Dairies, and Milkshops have been inspected at intervals and are satisfactory. Slaughter-houses are in a good condition. The Council have adopted a code of regulations for the better arrangement of cowsheds and dairies, which came into operation of January 1st, 1904.

Three samples of water have been analysed, two being good one bad.

The low death-rate is sufficient proof of the sanitary condition of the town.

I beg to express my thanks to your Inspector for his valuable assistance and co-operation and the efficient way in which he has carried out his duties.